New requirements affecting oil tank vessel owners and owners of vessels carrying oil as “secondary cargo”[1] operating in certain areas of Western Alaska when going to or from a port in the United States As from 14 May 2012 the US Coast Guard (USCG) will require compliance with new Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) for certain vessels operating in Western Alaska. Historically it has not been possible for tank owners operating in Western Alaska carrying oil to comply fully with the vessel response planning requirements of the Oil Pollution Act 1990 and the USCG allowed waivers of the regulations (see USCG letter of 12 August 2009 attached). In 2010 the USCG announced that shipowners would be required to fully comply with the Regulations or adhere to approved Alternative Planning Criteria. On May 2011 the Alaska Marine Exchange published proposals for new Alternative Planning Criteria (http://www.ak-mprn.org/pdfs/WA-APC-T-2011.pdf). The criteria have now been finalised. Oil tank vessel owners and owners of vessels carrying oil as secondary cargo in certain areas of Western Alaska while going to or from a port in the United States will be required to comply with the new requirements with effect from 14 May 2012. These areas are the areas of Western Alaska outside Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound regions and within 200 miles of the US coastline. The new requirements In order to meet the new requirements owners will be required to obtain a Certificate of Participation from Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network and to contract with the OSRO, Alaska Chadux. This evidence should be included in the relevant Vessel Response Plan. Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network (AMPRN) ANPRM was established to administer the operational and equipment procurement requirements of the APC. Full details of how to obtain a Certificate of Participation are to be found on the AMPRN website: www.ak-mprn.org . The fees charged by AMPRN are USD 6,000 per vessel per calend